Return of the Runebound Professor

Chapter 863: Ill Omens

“Are you seeing this?” Renewal breathed, leaning so far forward in her Cumulo that she risked plopping right out of the magical cloud-chair and faceplanting on the ground. But the threat was nothing in face of the shimmering images unfolding in the air before her.

“There’s quite literally nothing else in this room other than you,” Decras replied in a drawl. Dark tendrils of matter twisted up beneath his feet to form into a stool as he kicked back and crossed his arms behind his head. Renewal didn’t have to look over at the other god to know that he was paying the screen just as much attention as she was.

“And?” Renewal asked impatiently. “I wish there was a fast-forward. I want to get to the tournament. Does Noah even realize how close they all are?”

“It hardly matters,” Decras replied. There was a note of genuine annoyance in his voice. “That little prophecy demon is interfering too heavily. If it weren’t for her, Lee very well may have found everyone and brought them back together well before they’d even entered the city.”

Renewal harrumphed. She crossed her arms in front of her chest. “No way. That demon is a bit of a brat, but she’s got her head screwed on right this time around. She’s doing things for a reason. I’d imagine she’s foreseen some significant trouble if they get together too early.”

“It’s possible someone might sense the remnants of Arbalest on them,” Decras mused. He went silent for a moment. Then he grunted. “But who would even be looking for something like that at this point? It’s been months. Anyone seeking such traces isn’t going to be wandering around Aqua Terra. They’ll be out in the field.”

“You do realize this is Noah we’re talking about, right?” Renewal shook her head in amusement. “That insufferable little mortal has every single finger and toe of his stuck into some manner of danger or another. He doesn’t seem to know how to get out of a situation without creating at least some degree of an enemy. You haven’t missed what’s happening, have you?”

“He can hardly be blamed this time around,” Decras replied. “It’s Yoru’s fault. I don’t imagine there would be nearly as much talk about him as there is now if she hadn’t been meddling… and ironically enough, the talk isn’t even half of the matter. If your pet Prophet knew that Noah had not just been to the Beyond but also escaped it—”

“I think she might kill herself,” Renewal muttered. She pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose and blew out a slow sigh. “I’m hoping that particular little factoid never makes it out. But you’re right about one thing. Anyone that’s started to worry about the rumors Yoru’s been spreading around doesn’t know half of the matter. They’re worried for all the wrong reasons.”

“That does seem to be the case in most scenarios. Mortals look for threats in all the wrong locations. They fear the heart’s whispers over the eye’s promises.” Decras blew out a small sigh and rose to his feet, extending his hand in the process. Dark matter dripped down his palms and twisted into the form of a gold-bladed glaive. He tapped the butt of the weapon against the ground. “And we gods are not so different, Renewal. There is only so long we can stand and watch. We must continue to forge ourselves. Noah is not the only one with threats on the horizon.”

“You’re the only one standing,” Renewal countered. “And we were just preparing. That’s literally all we do. You can’t mean to imply that we’re going to miss the tournament. We’ve been waiting all this time for it to start! If Noah crawled his way out of the Beyond and actually escaped the Citadel — things we have no reason for which to disbelieve — then the least he deserves is an interested audience.”

Decras shifted to stand in front of Renewal. He arched an eyebrow, ignoring her attempts to peer past him.

“He doesn’t even know you’re watching, pervert.”

“That doesn’t change anything,” Renewal snapped. “Impressive deeds are meant to be witnessed. There would be no point to them otherwise. Now get out of my way. And don’t call me a pervert! You were sitting just next to me a moment ago.”

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“Addict?”

“I am not.”

“Then what do you call this? Get you ass into gear, Goddess. We are still too weak. Or will you ask Judgement to sit and join us the next time she comes knocking?”

Renewal’s eyes narrowed. Then she threw her hands up. “Damn it. Fine. You win. Let’s go beat the life out of each other. But we’re coming back and watching the tournament, you hear me? I’m not missing it.”

“Why do you even care so much?” Decras asked, tilting his head to the side. “It’s far from the first tournament we’ve observed. Just because Noah is in it doesn’t meant mean it will be interesting.”

“Well that’s a stupid question,” Renewal said. She sent Decras a flat look. “What exactly do you think is going to happen in the tournament?”

“They fight a few people, Noah avoids using Sunder to keep from drawing any extra attention to himself, and then the gang reunites,” Decras replied. “Probably in that order. Yoru seems to have things under control.”

“Yes,” Renewal said. “That part is likely a given. But that’s not what I’m interested in. Well, aside from the last bit. That, I want to be there for. But there’s something far more interesting that you’re completely glossing over.”

“And what would that be?” Decras asked. “Don’t tell me you’ve taken an unhealthy liking to yet another one of them.”

Renewal opened her mouth. Then she closed it again as her eyes went even thinner. “Don’t go pretending like you don’t absolutely adore that little knowledge demon. You aren’t cool, Decras. Don’t forget I’ve been sitting around with you this whole time. Or do I need to go into—”

“No, no. That’s quite fine.” Decras coughed into a fist. “We really don’t need to get lost in the unimportant details. Just spill it. What are you so interested in? Seeing if Yoru’s plans come together?”

“No,” Renewal replied. “It’s Noah.”

“Original.”

“Shut your mouth and let me speak for more than a few seconds at a time,” Renewal said, unleashing a small wave of her domain and sending Decras stumbling a half-step back. “Have you forgotten what rank Noah is?”

Decras paused. Then his head tilted to the side. “5?”

“And do you remember what happened the last time he hit Rank 6?”

Realization flickered over Decras’ features. “He damn near begun the ascension process.”

“There you go,” Renewal said with a cool grin. “And that was with a malformed, hastily thrown-together rune. He doesn’t have that anymore. And how many Rank 5 runes does he have now?”

“Five,” Decras said, his head turning as he looked back at the screen behind him. “He’s only two away from completing his set and reaching Rank 6.”

“And?” Renewal asked, arching her eyebrow. She was more than aware it wasn’t necessary. Decras had already figured it out. But being smug never hurt anyone. Hell, it was practically a requirement for godhood.

“Givenh ow big this tournament is… a Rank 5 definitely isn’t going to make enough of a splash for anyone to notice,” Decras muttered. “He’s not stupid. He’ll realize that he needs to make a bigger impact than what he’s currently capable of doing. He has to make sure everyone in Obsidia hears his name to make sure not a single one of his students can miss him.”

“And when he realizes that, he’s going to ascend,” Renewal said, her eyes sparking in anticipation. “It won’t be hard for him. Not this time. If he reunites with Moxie and Grim, he’ll have the resources to ascend the moment after they finish hugging it out.”

For once, Decras didn’t even respond. He just stared over his shoulder at the screen. Then he looked back to Renewal, swallowing. “You remember how close he came last time?”

“Oh, yeah.” Renewal’s grin spread even farther across her lips. “And it’ll be stronger this time. Much stronger. He’s going to begin forming a Divine Rune very, very soon. And I’m going to be there to see it. That’s the inspiration that we need. A Rank 6 creating a Divine Rune… have you ever heard of that?”

“Of course not,” Decras said with a shake of his head. “It shouldn’t even be possible. But that idiot’s soul is such a mishmash of foreign energies and broken to the point of irreparability. It might actually be possible. You’re right. We do have to watch the tournament. If we can watch the creation of such a rune from within Noah’s soul, the benefits would be incredible.”

“We can thank him for the show after he properly ascends,” Renewal agreed. “I don’t think he’ll mind.”

“Yeah. And — wait a minute.” Decras paused. Then he let out a bark of laughter. “That’s it. I figured it out.”

“Figured what out?” Renewal asked, blinking.

“Yoru’s plan. That’s why she’s making sure that Noah doesn’t meet all of his students yet,” Decras said, turning back to face the screen. “She knows he’ll realize that Rank 5 isn’t sufficient. Yoru is trying to push him into becoming a god as fast as she can.”

“Clever little shit, she is,” Renewal said. She hesitated for a moment before continuing. “And though I’m inclined to agree with you, doesn’t that raise another question?”

“It does,” Decras said grimly. “What did Yoru see coming that she thinks it necessary for Noah to form a Divine Rune so early?”